CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Department of Health (DOH)-10 re-launched its Sa Booster Lakas Pinas sa Malls campaign to have 50% of the general population get COVID 19 booster shot and 90% of the senior citizens get fully immunized.
Dr. Jose Llacuna Jr, DOH-10 regional director said, “No less than the president of the Philippines himself, who believes in science endorses COVID 19 immunization, because he knows when we immunize, we are better protected than the rest of the population, who do not have immunization against COVID-19.”
Under Marcos administration, 90% of senior citizens must be fully vaccinated and 50% of the general population must be inoculated with booster doses.
Meanwhile, in the region coverage is at 77% full immunization while 73% for the senior citizens, and booster doses for the general population is only 17%, a challenge for us, Llacuna said.
“Through the years, the immunization campaign has been very successful. We are able to beat polio, we decreased the measles cases, tetanus cases because we are doing immunization,” Llacuna added.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Arnel Agabe, who availed of his second booster dose during the event, said because of the vaccination program, hospitals will not be overwhelmed should cases rise.
“Despite the rising cases of COVID in the region, since July, hospitals were not overwhelmed, unlike before if we have a surge, the reason for this is our vaccination program,” he shared.
He also pledged the support of DILG.
“Andam muhatag sa kaangayan tabang. Andam mutabang sa Department of Health, andam muhatag og tabang sa atong mga (Ready to give appropriate support. Ready to help the Department of Health and the local government units) LGUs for us to achieve herd immunity here in Region 10 in its 2,022 barangays, 84 municipalities, 9 cities and 5 provinces,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd)-10 through Dr. Myra Yee expressed its 150% support to Lakas Pinas campaign of DOH with its 48,909 teaching and non teaching personnel all over Region 10.
In fact, in the DepEd 10, 98% are fully vaccinated while 22% with booster shots. (JMOR/PIA-10)
